Player News - Browns

There was never any doubt Griffin would be activated as the team confirmed he will be the starting quarterback the rest of the way barring injury. Despite getting the starting nod, the offense around Griffin is too poor and the risk of an in-game injury is too high to trust him in standard leagues. OL Matt McCants was waived in a corresponding move.

Isaiah Crowell has found zero success behind a crumbling offensive line over the last two months, but we have seen Griffin's mobility positively impact the running game in the past. It is possible we see a similar situation play out in Cleveland, but the way Griffin helps the running game is by being a threat to keep the ball himself, and it is unlikely the Browns want to put the brittle quarterback in that situation too often. That said, Kevin Hogan had some success running the zone read against Cincinnati the last time these two teams met. Even so, Crowell will remain a low-floor RB3.

Browns coach Hue Jackson admits Robert Griffin III's starting stint is an "audition" for next season.

Griffin, who simply hasn't been the same since his magical rookie season, is going to have a hard time acing it. Jackson also said "availability" was the most important thing for a quarterback. RGIII has rarely had it. Jackson said he made the decision to start Griffin after watching tape of Wednesday's practice. It's an intriguing experiment that will probably amount to nothing.

This was expected but is now official. The Browns want to see what they have in Griffin after losing him in the season opener. Griffin will get the final four weeks to audition for the 2017 starting job, but the odds are stacked against him. Cleveland can save $7.5 million from releasing Griffin this offseason.

ESPN's Dan Graziano reports the Browns plan to start Robert Griffin III against the Bengals.

Coming out of the bye week, coach Hue Jackson refused to name a starter after Wednesday's practice, a practice in which all four of RGIII, Josh McCown, Cody Kessler, and Kevin Hogan took snaps. Signs have pointed to Griffin getting the start for the past couple weeks. He does very little to move the needle from a fantasy standpoint, but Terrelle Pryor's floor remains safe.

Kindred somehow suffered a broken ankle during the bye week. The fourth-round rookie played 122 of 125 defensive snaps the past two weeks. This expansion team-level defense continues to take hits and is one to attack.

Cooper was claimed off waivers from the Patriots back in October. The former No. 7 overall pick of the Cardinals has yet to play an offensive snap this season. After RG John Greco was sent to IR during the bye week, the Browns will now use the final four weeks to see what they have in Cooper.

Browns coach Hue Jackson said Monday that it's "too soon" to say whether Robert Griffin III will start in Week 14 against the Bengals.

Although Jackson was noncommittal in this presser, seemingly all of the Browns' beat writers believe RG3 will be under center versus Cincinnati. The growing consensus among reporters covering the team suggests they already know the Browns' Week 14 starter based on scuttlebutt at team headquarters. Hopefully Jackson will be more willing to publicly name his starter later in the week.

Griffin has yet to even be formally activated off injured reserve, but most signs are pointing toward him starting against the Bengals. The lost-year Browns might as well take a four-game look — if Griffin can stay healthy that long — headed into the offseason. We'd consider the odds heavily stacked against Griffin being the team's 2017 quarterback.

ESPN's Pat McManamon wrote "all signs point" to Robert Griffin III getting the start this week.

Hue Jackson has yet to name a starter, and McManamon's prediction comes with the important caveat of "provided he makes it through practice and looks like he has shaken off three months of rust." Still, it makes sense for the Browns to see what Griffin can do, especially considering they averaged fewer than 10 points in their last four games. Even if Griffin gets the nod, the offense around him is too poor and the chance of an in-game injury is too high to trust him in the first-round of the playoffs.

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reports Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam spoke at an organization-wide meeting about the importance of staying the course despite the specter of an 0-16 season.

Jimmy Haslam reportedly blamed past regimes and his own quick trigger for the team's current predicament before stressing the need for continuity. The comments suggest the jobs of both coach Hue Jackson and EVP Sashi Brown are safe even if the Browns go winless, but Haslam has been impetuous in the past. Still, firing Jackson for not winning after completely gutting the team in the offseason would be a nonsensical move. Both he and Sashi should get some time to turn the organization around.

NFL Network's Mike Garofolo expects Robert Griffin III to keep the starting job for the rest of the season if he's named Week 14 starter.

The Browns are on bye this week, giving them an extended period to plot the final quarter of their lost campaign. Griffin attempted 26 passes as a Brown before getting injured. He'd have to do something pretty dramatic in Weeks 14-17 to make himself part of the Browns' post-2016 plans.

ESPN's Ed Werder reports Robert Griffin III (shoulder, I.R.) has been cleared for full contact.

As expected. The Browns are off this week but return against the Bengals in Week 14. Cody Kessler (concussion) has also resumed practicing and will compete with Griffin III and Josh McCown for the starting job. Coach Hue Jackson will go with whoever gives Cleveland the best chance to finally win a game, though it makes sense for the Browns to at least see what they have in Griffin III as they near the end of a lost season.

Browns coach Hue Jackson said Robert Griffin III (shoulder, injured reserve) could be cleared for contact this week.

Griffin has one more test to pass, and it will be conducted this week. If Griffin is able to get cleared, it would not be surprising if he starts Week 14 against the Bengals, but Jackson thinks it is too early to make that decision. "He has not played football now in a while," Jackson said. "I am sure he has to get the rust off a little bit, but hopefully, we will see where he is, and if they clear him for contact, then we will know more as we move forward." Averaging less than 10 points a game over the last month, the Browns might as well see what Griffin can do.